Vanderpump Rules Season-Premiere Recap: To SUR With Love

by

The biggest challenge when watching the new season of Vanderpump Rules is avoiding comparisons to the original. The first version of the show gave us several great seasons, culminating in the unforgettable #Scandoval – a storyline that took over TikTok, memes, TV, and streaming services. It’s hard to watch this first episode without wondering if the original cast members were always like that – was Jax always problematic, Stassi always a villain, and Scheana always self-centered? But dwelling on the past is pointless. Comparing the two versions won’t bring you joy, and it prevents you from appreciating the new show for what it is. (I’m still refining that last thought, by the way.)

What’s interesting to discuss is how things have changed since the show originally started. When Vanderpump Rules first aired in 2013, becoming a reality TV star wasn’t a common career path, especially for young people. (Many who have succeeded in this field owe a debt to the cast and crew of SUR, and a certain family from Calabasas.) Instagram was still growing in popularity, and the idea of ‘influencers’ – people aiming to gain followers and promote brands on reality TV – didn’t really exist yet. The original cast members of Vanderpump Rules joined the show for fun and as a possible way to break into the entertainment business. They were pioneers, without any examples to follow, hoping it would lead to bigger things.

Things have changed for today’s reality TV contestants. They understand the show’s formula—the manufactured drama, dishonesty, romantic connections, and relationships built on what each person can offer the other. While reality fame used to be a stepping stone to careers in entertainment, like singing or acting, now it’s a path to becoming an influencer. The goal is to build a personal brand to promote products and earn money through platforms like Amazon Live and OnlyFans.

It’s concerning whether these new cast members, Jason and Chris (who are half-cousins), are genuinely interested in working at SUR, or if they just want to use the show to gain fame and followers. They’ve already been making money on OnlyFans – my research suggests they share quite a bit of content – and it seems likely they took these jobs for the exposure. The question is, will this change the show? Honestly, probably. Few people join a reality show out of the goodness of their hearts. However, the scene with Jason and Chris surfing and revealing their background as male strippers, along with their OnlyFans accounts, was surprisingly dull. It’s worth remembering Scheana was moved to SUR because of a relationship with Brandi Glanville’s ex, and that worked out okay, so maybe this won’t be a problem either.

I’m most concerned about this new group because they seem very disconnected from everyone else. Like the original cast of SUR, most of the people involved have existing relationships – they’re coworkers, friends, or have dated each other, including that one ex who apparently didn’t sign a waiver! The episode cleverly begins with a shift at the restaurant, reminding us of where the show started and what made it unique. We’re introduced to Venus, a waiter who’s been there for a couple of years, and Demy, who’s worked as a server for almost a decade and is now an assistant manager – she’s been waiting a long time for her chance at reality TV fame.

Chris and Jason are new and, honestly, I’m having trouble telling them apart, just like I did with Meredith and Lisa when they first started. They’re both being trained by Natalie and Marcus. Natalie is… a lot. She was recently suspended from work after a public outburst directed at her ex-boyfriend – who also used to work at the restaurant and dated Demy – while she was having dinner with her family, who were visiting from Florida. Apparently, she grew up near Ariana Grande, but doesn’t have the same singing talent. Her defense for her behavior? She hasn’t had sex in months and thinks that’s the real problem. Seriously? She’s upset about a guy who wasn’t even interested in being intimate with her? She needs to get a grip.

Marcus is teaching Jason the ropes, advising him to take it easy. He then demonstrates how to offer free drinks – shots with a specific liqueur – while on duty and how to secretly take the brunch sangria from the storage area. Marcus’s girlfriend, Kim, also works there, and I think she has a real talent for reality TV. Marcus introduces us to his friend Shayne Davis, a very attractive model who isn’t an employee but gets away with behaving playfully. Shayne and Natalie have a connection and she’s made it clear she considers the restaurant ‘hers,’ asking him not to bring other dates. He ignores her request and arrives on a date, seemingly eager to create drama.

Okay, so after work, everyone headed to a bar, and it was…a lot. Jason and Chris were clearly trying way too hard to be cool with the rest of us, while most of the crew seemed determined to start a fight for the cameras. Honestly, the only real drama that happened was between Kim and Marcus. She was seriously annoyed that Marcus and Natalie were constantly texting, saying they weren’t that close and shouldn’t be communicating so much. The rest of us kept trying to tell her she was wrong and they actually are close, but she just wouldn’t see it. It’s 2025, seriously! Can’t guys and girls just be friends? And get this – even Venus, who’s best friends with Marcus, told him he should’ve had Natalie’s back more when Kim was yelling at her. It was a messy night, to say the least!

Reality TV can really mess with our heads. Take this scenario: does anyone on these shows actually interact with relatable people? It’s bizarre to watch someone tell a man he should protect another woman—especially while arguing with his own girlfriend! Look at Tom Schwartz – how well did that ever go for him? Remember when Katie told him something incredibly personal and hurtful? It probably stemmed from him prioritizing someone else, and honestly, she was justified in being upset. It wasn’t until the show got a fresh start that I realized Katie was usually right, starting around season five.

I realize now I was wrong to think Kim was overreacting. While it seemed like Natalie and Marcus just wanted to be friends, I remembered Natalie’s history of going after other people’s boyfriends. She’s not genuinely interested in friendships; she’s focused on creating drama for potential sponsorships. She’d exploit any situation for a storyline, aggressively pursuing it like shoppers on Black Friday for a deal. Kim is right to be upset that her boyfriend was texting with someone who has a pattern of stealing partners, and it’s crazy that everyone was trying to tell her she was wrong.

Okay, so things apparently went totally downhill after everyone left. Kim and Marcus ended up having a huge, drunken argument, and she accused him of always ignoring her feelings – the usual, she said. Then he just left in the middle of it all! She apparently called him a hundred times. Marcus told Shayne he deliberately didn’t answer because he knew she’d just come over to his place if he did – and, honestly, he figured she’d probably try to sleep with him the next morning. It just makes me wonder, what is Kim even doing? If this is how Marcus always acts, why is she even bothering? Seriously, are guys so awful that she thinks this is the best she can get? (I think we all know the answer to that one.)

Don’t stress – things are about to heat up for Marcus. When Lisa arrives at SUR, Nathalie, a co-owner and almost the worst possible bartender, claims she was reviewing security footage looking for something lost (likely a manufactured storyline). She discovered Marcus, Jason, and Venus were drinking while working. Nathalie then calls a staff meeting to publicly scold Marcus. Lisa begins by acknowledging the challenges facing the restaurant, explaining that West Hollywood nightlife hasn’t fully recovered after the pandemic and SUR is struggling. I found this honesty refreshing and wish it were used to create more tension – the staff should feel real pressure to improve, or risk losing not just their restaurant jobs, but their roles on the TV show as well.

I was completely captivated watching Katie. First, this guy, Marcus, really pushed her buttons – yelling at him for drinking and, even worse, for encouraging someone else to drink while working! She kicked him out immediately, promising consequences later. Then, I saw Marcus slinking around back, near the SUR alley – it’s amazing, they say it’s going to be a UNESCO site! He ended up right across from Dogpound, next to Katie’s place, Something About Her. She was outside, looking absolutely adorable in a denim skirt and apron, her hair neatly in a bun but with some strands falling around her ears. She seemed so peaceful, just sweeping her stoop with a broom, clearing away dust, leaves, and old Abbey wristbands. I could almost feel her thoughts – wondering when the bread would be done, and if that delayed mayonnaise shipment would ever arrive. She was really in the zone when she looked up and saw Marcus, looking totally lost with his cameras. He seemed so confused, unsure where to go or what to say, and clearly didn’t know the woman with the clipboard who was grilling him. Katie instantly recognized the situation. She abandoned her little pile of swept-up debris and rushed inside, locking the door and pulling down the blinds. But you could tell she was fighting the urge to peek, her fingers practically twitching as she wondered if just a little look wouldn’t hurt.

Read More

2025-12-03 06:56